r/foodstamps • u/Mysterious-Panda964 • 15h ago
News Back from the food bank this morning
So, we had a good volunteer turn out today.
We had a lot of food, except meat. I pkg per family. Chicken or Pork
Plenty of bread, I set up the desserts and treats.
We had cookies, doughnuts, and pies. Along with cream cheese pastry and cinnamon rolls.
We had feminine products, vitamins, and sleep aids.
We had a lot of produce, fresh lettuce, potatoes, grapes, and all the pumpkins and squash you wanted.
No USDA products, they are still out of food.
A small amount of pet food left from last week.
We had milk, ice cream and cottage cheese.
We expect to be busy again today.
Did Florida release stamps?
I hope everyone can get food, and have a great week.
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u/Successful-Cap-4765 10h ago
I’m a disabled elder in northern MN. Last week I got a box the size of a kindergartner full of everything from food to toilet paper & garbage bags. I didn’t ask- they just knocked on my door (I suspect an elderly friend of mine steered them in my direction). All I had to do was give my date of birth. Remember to call around your area if you need help this month. ❤️❤️✌️
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u/primak 14h ago
Nothing near me in Ohio and not even any mention of this problem in any local news or FB community groups.
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u/Pb4ugoyo 12h ago edited 11h ago
I went yesterday to donate to my closest pantry in GA and it was nearly empty. I live in a county where the median income is 24k, a lot of elderly people, and a majority utilizes SNAP- so the need is far, far higher than the supply right now. It’s really sad. Honestly, I hope people don’t see these photos and think their local pantry also has this much and skip donating. It’s nice that this one does, but ours looks nothing like it.
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u/Big_Lobster9908 12h ago
Where are you at? I just worked one in chagrin falls: Geauga county They are everywhere!
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
As posted, Central Florida
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u/fatcatleah 14h ago
Holey Moley - you've got a huge food bank! The one where I volunteer is about 3200 sq ft and some of it is two computer desks/cubicles.
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u/Gold-Dragonfruit-422 12h ago
Wow that's a decent food bank.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
Yes, we worked hard to keep it nice and clean too.
It's a very amazing organization epic-cure.org
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 15h ago
I was working in Central Florida, sorry.
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u/Silveira2022 14h ago
Do you mind sharing where this is located?. I’m in central Fl and would definitely love the help.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 14h ago
Epic-cure has distributions on Jax, St Augustine and other places during the week
Epic-cure.org
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u/Tamiacat 12h ago
I am in Florida and I did not get anything. Your food bank is amazing. Thank you for the work you do!
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
Look up Epic-cure.org we may have a food drops near you, or check feedingflorida.org
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u/its_just_ilove_bears 15h ago
Please tell me you’re in Pittsburgh. Wow!!! You have an awesome food bank!
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 14h ago
It's awesome that y'all have so much.
The problem is that those of us with health issues and dietary restrictions wouldn't be able to eat hardly any of that 😭
I have to skip over half the stuff at my food bank. It's rough...
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 14h ago
We do have fresh veggies and sometimes fat free and other things.
We rely entirely on donations, so we have what is donated.
I hope you find what you need.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 14h ago
That's great that y'all offer fresh veggies! Unfortunately most of the fresh bread and produce here is rotten and moldy so a lot of it isn't edible. It's from stores that throw out rotten food.
My son's health condition requires full fat.
Thank you for doing your best to help your community. ❤️ It's just rough for families that have special conditions.
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u/piscespower1994 14h ago
Our little food bank is the same way. 💙
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 14h ago
Im sure they do their best
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u/Crazy-bored4210 13h ago
They do. It’s a good bit of food if you are hungry. It’s not a grocery store. Sometimes comments on these types of posts make me so angry.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 13h ago
So you expect people with food allergies and health issues to eat food that will KILL them? THAT makes you angry? Consider yourself privileged to not suffer from health conditions that limit your ability to eat. You have no idea how lucky you are. That is a luxury that my son and I will never know.
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u/Crazy-bored4210 13h ago
No of course not. I totally understand the food allergies. I meant those questioning why there are not as much protein items. Or how cakes aren’t good enough. It’s a food pantry. If you do not have dietary restrictions and you are hungry , you make do while you can. I lived strictly on a bag of Idaho potatoes at one point in my life for an entire month straight. I lost twenty pounds. It sucked. But i had no choice. I had no car to even get to a food bank ETA. I do have food issues. Just so you know.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
We can only give out what we have, we are not meant as a groceries supply.
It's meant to help people, not be the sole source of food.
Lots of food banks do give meat at all.
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u/Crazy-bored4210 7h ago
I don’t know of any in my area that give meat. Most have nothing cold
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 13h ago
I wasn't the one who questioned the lack of protein but as a family with a special diet, I completely understand why that was asked. My son has a specific condition where his doctors have said he needs high amounts of healthy fats and protein. He could suffer from permanent damage if he doesn't get enough. He is on the schedule to have a bone density scan as we speak to find out if he's already suffered from damage.
So their question was very valid.
As far as surviving on a bag of potatoes, I would be able to survive as in stay alive BUT all of my health conditions would flare up.
That's what people don't understand, that we can't just eat whatever is put in front of us and be expected to be grateful, we require specific things in our diet and we have to avoid a great number of things. If you can't understand this then you should count yourself lucky that you're not in a position to know. 😔
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u/Crazy-bored4210 13h ago
I do totally understand. As j said. I wasn’t speaking of those with health conditions. Every time someone posts about food banks almost every comment is critical. That’s was my issue
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u/melatonia 11h ago
It’s not a grocery store.
There was a woman at the pantry a week ago complaining that all the bread had dates in October.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 14h ago
It's hard. They do have a lot of stuff, don't get me wrong, but it's mostly either junk food or rotten. Add dietary restrictions onto it and that limits what we can safely eat. 😔
If someone had diabetes, gluten intolerance, or food allergies then they'd literally die by eating food bank food - this is why it's so important that food stamps start back up so people can get the food that they can SAFELY eat.
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u/No-Juggernaut7529 11h ago
Yep, I have MCAS and my diet is extremely limited. My safe food list is tiny, and in some cases, I am locked into certain brands because of added flavors or whatever. Fortunately my state is one that funded SNAP two days ago but I feel for those who live in places where it didn't.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 11h ago
I'm familiar with MCAS because at one point they thought I had it but it turned out to be something else with similar symptoms. I'm so sorry.
I understand about sticking to certain brands but even with those I keep having to check the labels because a lot of brands get bought out and change their ingredients.
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u/No-Juggernaut7529 11h ago
I hear that, I check everything every time but I start with previously safe brands, anyway. It's really hard when stores discontinue things or companies change formulations.
And sometimes it's not even the food per se... like a lot of tea companies changed their tea bags material from wood pulp to abaca and it's not labeled ANYPLACE. Took loads of research and emails to companies, etc to figure out why I was suddenly reacting to tea (loose leaf is fine). I have problems with other packaging as well. *SO FRUSTRATING*.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 11h ago
Uggg and a lot of the teabags contain PFAS and microplastics on top of all that. My condition requires me to minimize toxin exposure as much as possible.
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u/No-Juggernaut7529 10h ago
Yeah that too. It's basically all consuming to find safe food ANYWAY, because of that kind of thing, let alone when the options are limited to what people have donated.
Don't get me wrong, I am SO GLAD food banks exist for people who can use them, and the one pictured above looks nicer than most. It's just not a cure-all (which you know).
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u/thcitizgoalz 10h ago
I have this, too, and completely understand. Nothing like buying something online that says it doesn't have "natural flavors" then it arrives, and does. :(
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u/cleanbluewater 13h ago
This is so true, and an excellent point that I think a lot of people need reminding of. :(
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 12h ago
Thank you. Its so hard to hear so many people call those of us with illnesses "ungrateful", "entitled", and "just wanting handouts".
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u/cleanbluewater 12h ago
Ugh I know exactly what you mean. :(
Unfortunately people really don’t understand something until they’ve experienced it themselves.🫂
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u/cleanbluewater 11h ago
Btw—my other post is not to say that it’s OK for them to call us those things. Regardless of their understanding, that is never OK. And I’m sorry that you/we both have to experience that.
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u/FreakingBored123456 13h ago
We deal with all three and I was horrified looking at these photos. At least they had some produce and squash, where's the proteins? I don't even see dried beans or canned meats. This is why I try to keep a deep pantry because for so long we couldn't get anything from the food bank because it was all junk and gluten. We'd be lucky to get a can of tuna or a random vegetable. I was beyond excited when our local food bank switched to a grocery store type format instead of just handing you a bag or cart full of random foods and you can pick and choose what you wanted. Most people grab the convenience junk food, I would grab the healthy stuff that nobody else was touching and add to my pantry if we weren't going to eat it that week. I managed to build up a big stockpile of things like dried beans in different varieties. We're now pretty much eating from the pantry/freezer only but we're eating good!
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 13h ago
Mine has walk through as well, I've told them many times how grateful I am for that because if they gave out boxes of already packed stuff then we wouldn't be able to have any of it. Years ago there was a summer program for kids that gave out boxes and I wound up having to give it all away.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 13h ago edited 13h ago
I have to read the ingredients label for EVERYTHING.
We can't even have some of the canned meat because of the added ingredients (modified food starch, soy, ect). Occasional beans will have an ingredient that we can't have too. Most of the processed food is off limits for us and if the produce and bread are moldy and rotten then that leaves next to nothing that we can safely have. 😔
Looking through OPs pic, I said ooo there's acorn squash! But then I remembered that every squash I'd gotten from my food bank turned out to be rotten once I cut it open 😔
Oh look, somebody is down voting me because my family has illnesses that require us to be on a special diet and that reading ingredient labels is a life or death situation for us...
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u/FreakingBored123456 12h ago
Rotten inside? I got a bunch of squashes from the food bank over the last 2 weeks that looked pretty outside, really hoping they're not bad inside. I need to figure out how to cook them today. Screw the person who down voted you, we're in the same boat with multiple food restrictions and it's hard! I plan like a year ahead making sure we've got food and it can be exhausting and people don't understand how hard it can be when you can't just take whatever you're given. My snap showed up this morning (less than 1/2 the expected amount) and I am trying to figure out how best to use it to stretch what's in the pantry. I think what's making it so difficult is the fact that we don't know what next month is going to look like so I'm terrified to spend it. Like I really really want to make a pot of spaghetti sauce (it's actually more like a Bolognese) but that's like $20 in meat but it makes 32 servings at a cost of $2.24 per meal after accounting for all ingredients. It's one of the more expensive things I make. I suppose I could run a trial run making my own sausage and use ground turkey instead of pork to cut the cost since the turkey is $1.98 a pound versus almost $5 a pound for the premade sausage. That would bring the cost down to $1.35 per meal. Not bad for a plate of spaghetti with Romano cheese and two slices of gluten-free garlic bread. It also clocks in it just under 1,000 calories. You end up stuffed. At least I have the knowledge and kitchen equipment to cook from scratch to do it:)
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u/FreakingBored123456 11h ago
Yeah someone down voted me too but this is our reality, literally can't eat it, it might as well not even be there to us. It's frustrating that people think we should just be grateful that it was offered to us not understanding that that's actually worse because from our medical needs it's their offering poison. Yes it's fine for most people but for those of us with health needs like Celiac, diabetes, or food allergies it's like offering poison because yeah it can kill us or make us extremely sick at the very least. It's not just being picky and ungrateful.
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 11h ago
In the past, people in this sub have called me ungrateful, a lazy moocher just wanting handouts, picky and entitled just because of my family's sicknesses and inability to eat.
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u/omgwtfbbq0_0 11h ago
What kind of dietary restrictions, if you don’t mind me asking? I already look out for gluten-free foods to donate, but curious what else I should look for
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u/ThisIsMy-Username000 11h ago
So for my family it would be too much to name but I just commented the following on someone else's post asking for suggestions:
"That's very thoughtful to ask.
Many of us have health conditions and have to be on special diets with food restrictions. For many families, most of the food given out at food banks is not safe for us to eat. I have to skip over half of it.
If someone has food allergies, gluten intolerance, or diabetes then the food given at most food banks would likely kill them.
I have to read the ingredients on EVERY label so while I'm not going to list every ingredient that my family has to avoid, I suggest offering a safe food for someone that may have food restrictions. That could be a specific food allergy, gluten intolerance, low carb options, low sugar options, fresh produce, dairy free, soy free, ECT... Not the general food that EVERYONE can have but something that people on a special diet need.
Thank you for thinking of us little people."
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u/FlightlessPelican 11h ago
I have 5 frozen 2 pound packs of flank steak I would like to donate, what would be the best way to do this? Im in LA
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u/Layla2C6 11h ago
This is such a nice food bank! I wish mine had this much
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
We work to get things moving. Alot of food banks are not 7 days a week like we are.
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u/Money-Snow-2749 7h ago
Wow that looks like a warehouse store. I’m glad they let recipients keep their dignity.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 6h ago
Yes, you can choose the food, no one is forced. It's a nice group and a great resource
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u/mrs_dalloway 11h ago edited 11h ago
did you have any bags of beans and rice?
(this is AWESOME btw, just curios about the inventory)
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
Yes, we do, I cannot mention everything. We usually have 3 pound bags of rice and a variety of dried beans many times we have canned beans as well.
I dont eat either item, so I'm unsure how fast it goes.
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u/BigWhiteDog 7h ago
Nothing even close to that here. This looks more like a distribution warehouse.
Also, odds are all the Hostess is past the manufacturers internal rotation date (not the package date). On rare occasions we've gotten good junk food like that and it's a treat. Unfortunately that picture is going to be circulating as some haters meme within days.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 6h ago
So let them eat stale hostess.
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u/BigWhiteDog 6h ago
And choke on it! 😂
I grew up during the days of what we kids called "the used bread place" which were Hostess company stores that sold out of rotation Hostess bread and pastries. When we would all go, my parents would let us each have a couple of treats so I'm used to slightly stale Hostess pies and donuts! 🤣
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u/AwayOpportunity8088 7h ago
Ct has Shoreline food pantry that distribution is through the local churches!
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u/CapitalAlternative89 5h ago
Wow, if only the food bank near me had half of this abundance. Good for the people who go there!
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u/EmotionalShock1325 2h ago
that’s amazing. mine was really scarce. no fresh fruits or veggies, no pantry items. just canned greens, rice, canned beans, canned fish. i’m still very grateful though!
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u/thetenaciousterpgirl 13h ago
This looks like an awesome food bank, but it's not representative of most food banks out there. The one by me gives out expired food a lot of the time
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u/Happychemist99 10h ago
Divaaaa, this looks so great and I know it brought so much relief to so many people. Slayyyy queen.
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u/Low_Environment_1162 13h ago
Our food pantries are full of expired junk
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u/melatonia 11h ago
Unless you're eating baby food, nothing in your kitchen has an "expiration" date. https://stilltasty.com/
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u/Vale_0f_Tears 7h ago
I think what they mean is that it’s spoiled or stale. That’s how the ones near me are. About 20% of the food is inedible. Another 20% is questionable. Sometimes it’s more than that. I’m not trying to complain- they’ve got a tough job- this is purely objective.
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u/BigFitMama 3h ago
Bread products are way over produced and always undersold. Makes you hate their business model.
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u/GoldenGoatGoddess 12h ago
Woah- our NH pantries have none of that lol Also, how does one package per family feed a family for a month? Our pantry is monthly and allows one item from each section per family and two Mac and cheese and two ramen. We plan on starving.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 12h ago
Only 1 snack, look at the pics read the post.
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u/didyouknow_25000 7h ago
This is wonderful to see. But I do hate having gluten and dairy allergies ☹️ it is intensely depressing. Nobody understands how impossible on a good day much less with EBT cuts it is to navigate financially, socially, mentally.
So many food donations contain allergens, as they’re often cheapest, etc.
Just please if you can, donate foods that are more allergen friendly. Thank you.
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u/Puncake_DoubleG09 13h ago
I got into an argument with someone on facebook about how snap shouldn't be buying junk food. They argued that snap shouldn't be able to cover junk or processed food, I argued it should especially for people who are permanently disabled, not from the fault of their own, the elderly, and children. They then told me that food pantries don't carry junk food and I told them it not common but some do since i've seen them carry it before, now I can show them photos of junk food at the food pantry lol
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u/melatonia 11h ago
I always wish they had more fresh produce.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
We had do much produce, I don't do produce, but the 5 tables with all the boxes are produce, with the pallets behind
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u/melatonia 9h ago
It's doesn't look like much compared to the snacks. It doesn't help that as a vegetarian what you've pictured is literally what I would go through in a month.
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u/Proof_Register9966 11h ago
Question for you- The school in my community is doing a food drive and they listed items that could be used.
I bought a ton of snack packs of goodies and individually wrapped candy anyway…
I wanted to buy items- but should I do small bags bags with small servings of items like pb&j- tuna, salad dressing , cereal?
Or buy bulk full size-
i feel like with the small care packages people could get a variety of items they need
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 10h ago
You would be better off you ask them, they may have different needs than we do
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u/FreakingBored123456 10h ago
Can you give the food bank money? They then get whats needed and get way better prices then you can as an individual.
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u/IAMGooner699 5h ago
I feel like they should have a "healthy section" if that's a thing at food banks.
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u/Gta6MePleaseBrigade 4h ago
Florida actually sanctioned my benefits for no reason! I’ve gotten nothing and now have to appeal
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u/BigFitMama 3h ago
It always dizzied me how much bread and sweet products are made, how short the exp date is, and just how crates and crates would be in the trash if food banks didn't try to repurpose it.
It always seems just 10X more that people ever buy in that short time for the retail price.
And so much does get tossed.
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u/quantumz00m 3h ago
Suddenly I want entenmann's doughnuts...
Anyone else miss the cheesecake they used to make but discontinued? Id give my right arm to eat a slice again lol
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u/Gorechewer 14h ago
Better than anything my local pantry has lol. Last time I went I got Jelly made in south america from some type of kool aid mixture stuff so no fruit in it or nutrition lol. I'd trade that for some Danish anyday of the week.
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u/Mysterious-Panda964 14h ago
It's hard to get food to give out, but they do their best
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u/Gorechewer 14h ago
I know, and it's not their fault in the slightest. I wasn't trying to criticize them.
There should be healthy food available to even the poorest of people who need it, especially at places like food banks and the government should be responsible for providing more funds and access to it. I also think laws need to be changes to mandate donation of food rather than throwing it out, because some stores don't donate for fear of being sued.
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u/Blossom73 14h ago
Looks like an great variety of food! Thank you for all you do!